Karnataka govt announces Rs 162 cr package for weavers, veggi, fruit growers

Rs 162 crore financial relief package has been announced by the Karnataka government for vegetable and fruit growers and weavers of the power looms.

Bengaluru: Karnataka government on Thursday announced a Rs 162 crore financial relief package for vegetable and fruit growers and weavers of power looms, who are in distress because of COVID-19 induced lockdown.

Farmers who had grown vegetables in 50,083 hectares (ha) and those who had grown fruits in 41,054 ha will be given Rs 15,000 per ha amounting to Rs 137 crore, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said.

This was in line with earlier commitment by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa when he announced Rs 1,610 crore relief to farmers, barbers and taxi drivers among others that similar assistance would be provided to these sectors also, he told reporters here.

The latest package covers growers of fruits like banana, papaya, table grapes, anjura, pineapple, watermelon and muskmelon among others as these did not get marketed. Vegetables include tomato, green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkin, carrot, onion, capsicum among others.

Madhuswamy said the Rs 2,000 assistance given to handloom workers was being extended it to weavers working in 1.25 lakh power loom units also as a one time relief. One weaver working in each of these power looms units, will be given Rs 2,000, which will amount to a total of Rs 25 crore, he added.

The Yediyurappa government had last week announced relief measuresincluding compensation of Rs 5,000 each to thousands of washermen, barbers, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, whose livelihood has been affected due to the COVID- 19 lockdown.

It had also given relief to farmers, Rs 25,000/ha compensation for affected flower-growers, certain relaxation in electricity bills for MSMEs and large industries, deposit Rs 2,000 directly to the bank account of the handloom weaver, and Rs 3,000 to building workers.

(PTI)